Chapter 16: Wild Vegetables

Chen Manman was sorting clothes in her space, picking and choosing what was suitable to wear now.

“This one for grandma, this one grandpa can wear, this one for mom! This one suits dad…”

Chen Manman packed the sorted clothes, preparing to take them out tomorrow.

At this time, the clothes had all been washed. Chen Manman lifted a big basin filled with spun-dry clothes, stepped out of the space, and using a flashlight, started hanging the clothes to dry in the backyard.

“I’ll help you!” Suddenly, a male voice came from behind, startling Chen Manman so much she almost jumped, and she immediately aimed the flashlight over — it was Lin Shuhe!

“Why is it you again!” Chen Manman was speechless. Why had this guy been scaring her all these past two days? What was going on with this male lead?

Lin Shuhe hadn’t expected to startle Chen Manman again, looking apologetic, “Sorry, I saw you hadn’t returned to the house for a long time, I was worried…” His tone was somewhat downcast.

Chen Manman: “…Not necessary!”

“Oh, I’m just washing clothes! You should go to sleep now!” Chen Manman replied perfunctorily.

“I’ll help you!” Lin Shuhe bent down, picked up a piece of clothing. It felt a bit small, and as he examined it carefully, still wondering if it was for the two kids, the clothes were suddenly snatched from his hand.

“Pervert!!!” Chen Manman’s face flushed bright red — that was her little underwear…

Only then did Lin Shuhe realize and felt embarrassed, “Sorry, I… I didn’t mean it!”

“You better go to sleep now!” Chen Manman wished she could just disappear into the ground.

“Alright, I’m going!” With that, he hurriedly ran towards the front yard.

By the time Chen Manman returned to the house, Lin Shuhe was already under the covers.

After tidying up and turning off the lights, Chen Manman was about to get on the kang (heated bed), when Lin Shuhe’s voice came, “I didn’t mean it just now!”

Chen Manman was almost speechless. Who was she trying to scare?!

She replied perfunctorily, “Oh!”

“Are you mad?”

“No! Go to sleep now! You all have work tomorrow.”

“Okay.” Lin Shuhe was very happy to hear Chen Manman’s caring words.

Chen Manman: “…”

—-

It was another bright and sunny morning. Chen Manman got out of bed, but the two boys were no longer on the kang. Seeing no one in the room, Chen Manman slipped into the space, washing up, dressing, taking care of her skin, and braiding her hair; today she wore a shirt with overalls, looking youthful and sunny!

Going downstairs, she took out the clothes she had sorted the night before, placed the two kids’ clothes into the wardrobe, then took the clothes meant for grandpa and grandma outside.

In the yard, grandpa and grandma each held a child, feeding them.

“Mom! You’re up!” said Dahu, trying to break free from grandma’s arms.

“Mom~” Erhu also wanted to get down.

“Eat properly!” Watching the two kids being fed, she said nothing. She had noticed before that when no one coaxed the kids, they would obediently eat on their own, but if an elder coaxed them, they insisted on being fed.

“Manman is up.” Grandma looked kindly, her spirit high today.

“Grandma! Yesterday I went to the county and found the clothing factory lowered prices, so I bought clothes for you and grandpa too.” She lifted the bunch of clothes in her hands.

“Oh my! So many! Grandma and grandpa can’t wear that many, just keep them for yourself.” Grandma felt worried, thinking how much money all those clothes must have cost.

“Grandma! These are all your and grandpa’s sizes, specially bought for you! This one is just right for now, grandma, try it on!” Chen Manman used her usual trick — acting cute — and grandma would always agree.

“My precious granddaughter, since it’s specially bought for me, I must try it on. Come on, old man, you try too.” Grandma took the clothes from Chen Manman’s hand and handed them to grandpa.

The two elders went back inside to change into new clothes. Chen Manman squatted down to hug the two little ones, “Dahu, Erhu, mom bought new clothes for you too.”

“Wow! New clothes to wear!”

“Mom! We love you!”

The two little ones were overjoyed. Though the whole family loved the kids very much, it was impossible to wear new clothes often — conditions just didn’t allow it.

“Dahu, Erhu, how old are you now?” Chen Manman looked seriously at the two kids.

Seeing their mother’s serious face, Dahu timidly said, “Mom, we are three and a half years old now~”

“Yeah! You are three and a half now, not little three-year-olds anymore. Why do you still need to be fed?”

Dahu pouted unhappily, “Mom, we’ll eat by ourselves from now on~” and tried to hug Chen Manman.

Erhu also said, “Mom, Erhu was wrong, from now on I will eat by myself too,” with a pitiful little look, almost about to cry.

“Since you’re so obedient, mom will reward each of you with a big White Rabbit milk candy.” Chen Manman pulled candies from her pocket and handed them to the kids.

Dahu and Erhu instantly cheered, “Thank you, mom!” Kids’ happiness was always so simple.

The two elders came out in their new clothes, “Wow! Grandpa, grandma, your clothes fit perfectly and you look great!” Chen Manman gave a thumbs-up.

Grandma, who had been a little shy, instantly smiled happily at her granddaughter’s praise, “Really? Grandma thinks so too. It’s my precious granddaughter who has good taste in clothes.”

“Of course! Your granddaughter’s taste is the best!” Chen Manman said, raising another thumbs-up.

Grandma laughed, “By the way, your brother moved all our clothes back early this morning.”

“What about the brown sugar cookies and apples I gave you yesterday?”

Grandma lowered her head, not answering.

“Hmph! You dare to secretly eat the food I bought for grandpa and grandma!” Chen Manman was very angry! Just as she had guessed last night! Hmph!

Grandpa and grandma said nothing. Chen Manman decided she had to make them give it back.

After breakfast, grandma was going to the hillside behind the mountain to pick wild vegetables, carrying a basket to go out.

“Grandma! I’ll go! You stay at home and watch Dahu and Erhu for me.” Chen Manman took the basket from grandma’s hand.

“Manman, it’s sunny outside. Just stay inside here. Grandpa and grandma will be back soon!”

“Grandma, you don’t need to go. Just rest in the house. Leave these small things to me.” She had been here for several days but hadn’t yet gone to the back mountain to explore.

Chen Manman cheerfully carried her small basket out. Grandma was worried and asked grandpa to follow along.

Grandpa limped behind at a distance, which Chen Manman didn’t know.

At the hillside behind the mountain, from far away Chen Manman heard a group of children playing and laughing up ahead. That must be the place!

Groups of three or five kids were picking wild vegetables on the hillside. In this era, when food was scarce, every household’s children came to the hills to pick wild greens. Wild vegetable pancakes and porridge were good ways to cook them.

Chen Manman found a somewhat secluded spot and saw the ground covered with shepherd’s purse (jícài), feeling delighted.

She knew shepherd’s purse; in modern times many people bought it especially for making dumplings — incredibly delicious.

Why not make shepherd’s purse meat dumplings for lunch!

Thinking of this, Chen Manman’s mouth watered and she hurried up her digging.

In no time, she filled a basket, then stretched and yawned. She happened to glance toward a thicket on the hillside and saw clusters of small red berries.